Granite Cadet Squadron Holds Open House
2/1/2024 - GRANITE, Md. —While the week of January 14 may have been highlighted as the end of the snow draught with over four inches on the ground in central Maryland, that is not what invigorated the cadets of Civil Air Patrol's Granite Cadet Squadron. Instead, the unit was putting the finishing details on their first open house for 2024.
On January 18, 2024, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Emiko Scott and Cadet 2nd Lt. Talon White organized the cadets and senior members to share with the community and prospective cadets about the benefits of the Civil Air Patrol. This included overseeing numerous tables on various aspects of CAP, including aerospace, emergency services, color guard, cybersecurity, encampment, and Aerospace Connections in Education (CAP's elementary school initiative), to name just a few.
Two cadets were eager to share their thoughts about the Civil Air Patrol. "It is a great way to launch yourself in a career path and to find yourself," says Cadet Airman Ayden Libby, age 15.
Cadet 2nd Lt. Talon White, 12, said, "All the extras are the most exciting things about CAP - like encampment and all the other things - like flight academy."
"When it comes to Civil Air Patrol, you have to take a moment and take it apart. You do not have to go into the military," says 2nd Lt. Lakeshia Davis, deputy commander of the squadron. "Your involvement with Civil Air Patrol as a cadet could lead in multiple directions. Once you are an adult, you could enter the service industry for rescue, you could be a pilot, work in cyber security. . .Civil Air Patrol is your opportunity to grow," continued Davis.
This year, the squadron anticipates growth. For the first time, 2nd Lt. Nordvedt and SM Chad White reached out to the public school systems in Baltimore, Carroll, and Howard County, as well as over a dozen private schools.
Thanks to the leadership of Lt. Col. Brenda Reed, Granite Cadet Squadron's commander former commander, 2nd Lt. Davis, as well as other senior members, the squadron has blossomed from a spring 2019 homeschool field trip to a now four-year-old cadet squadron welcoming homeschool, private, and public-school cadets.
The squadron has multiplied this school year, moving from a daytime-only program to include a nighttime program. "When I look out at the cadet squadron's formation each week, I am delighted to see nearly 80 cadets. It is amazing to think that this squadron was born out of my curiosity all those years ago," said 2nd Lt. Kathryn Nordvedt.
The squadron offers year-round meeting options: Thursday mornings, 9:30 a.m. - Noon, and Thursday evenings, 7:15 p.m. - 9:15 p.m., at the Maryland Wing Headquarters, 3085 Hernwood Road, Woodstock, Maryland 21163.
